The American Red Cross has a rich history and is now a vital part of helping disaster victims in the United States and throughout the world. March is designated as American Red Cross Month, a time to appreciate the world-wide efforts and achievements of the American Red Cross and the individuals who volunteer their time and money to making it a successful organization. Volunteers and donors are always needed to help keep this worthwhile organization successful.
History of the American Red Cross
The inspiration for the American Red Cross came from the International Committee of the Red Cross, which was founded in February 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland with the stated goal of providing protection and assistance to victims of armed conflict. It was also the driving force behind the acceptance of the Geneva Convention.
Clara Barton, along with some friends, founded the American Red Cross on May 21, 1881 in Washington, D.C. The Red Cross was led by Clara Barton for the next 23 years. During those years, the Red Cross conducted its' first domestic and overseas missions and aided the U.S. Military during the Spanish-American War. The congressional charter- which states the mission and activities of a group- was first issued in 1900 with a second issued in 1905.
First aid, water safety, and public nursing programs had already been introduced by the Red Cross prior to the First World War. Both World War One and World War Two saw a dramatic increase in the size and scope of the Red Cross. It was during the Second World War that the National Blood Program was started, with the goal of providing blood for the armed forces. After World War Two, the nationwide civilian blood program was started. The first "Red Cross Month" was in March 1943, and declared by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Red Cross has continued to expand the services and education it provides.
The American Red Cross Today
The American Red Cross, while still fulfilling the original needs of the organization, has expanded and become a vital member of the International Federation of the Red Cross. The Red Cross is most famous for its' disaster relief efforts and the civilian blood program, which now provides over 50 percent of the blood and blood products in the United States.
The Red Cross responds to multiple disasters including house fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, hazardous material spills, tornadoes, explosions, and transportation accidents. Their main focus when responding to disasters is to provide shelter, food, health, and mental health services to the victims in an attempt to help them resume their normal daily activities. They also feed emergency workers and provide an information network to help those outside of the disaster area locate their family members.
Education is also an important part of the Red Cross today. They provide CPR/AED training, along with HIV/AIDS education and various other education programs to promote health and safety. The Red Cross also provides multiple services to the armed forces and their family members. International activities are often cooperative efforts with other national Red Cross groups. International efforts aid those affected by disasters and health crises, along with multiple humanitarian projects.
Volunteer Opportunities
The American Red Cross is not a government agency and is entirely dependent upon donations to function. Those who donate can choose where their donation goes. Options include help for military families, local Red Cross chapters, disaster relief, or where it is most needed. To donate, visit the Red Cross Donate Funds page.
The Red Cross is also constantly in need of individuals willing to donate blood. To find a location or to schedule an appointment to give blood, visit Redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS. There are multiple other volunteer opportunities available all over the country. Each chapter has its own particular needs, with needs constantly changing due to disasters around the country. The Red Cross has partnered with VolunteerMatch.org in order to find volunteers. Volunteer Match allow users to search by location to find their local chapter and to view volunteer opportunities in their area.
Successful Endeavor That Has Stood the Test of Time
The American Red Cross is over 125 years old, and is still a vital program that helps millions of people. The donations and volunteer efforts of individuals have helped make the American Red Cross a successful endeavor that has stood the test of time. The current and future efforts of individuals will help keep the American Red Cross as successful as it is today.
Sources:
American Red Cross. (2010). The American National Red Cross.
Hobson, Katherine. (2011, February 2). Major Winter Storms Put Blood Donations On Ice. The Wall Street Journal Online- Health Blog.
International Committee of the Red Cross. (2010). History of the ICRC. International Federation of the Red Cross.
Volunteer Match. (1998-2011). Volunteer Match- Where Volunteering Begins.
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